MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

More than 100 Argentine Policemen ousted

President Nestor Kirchner ousted more than federal 100 police officials and revamped key policing operations Friday, moving to improve the force to fight rising crime.

The purge came after tens of thousands of Argentines staged several demonstrations demanding tougher laws and a crackdown on crime.

Brazen street robberies, carjacking, bank heists and shootouts have increased in recent years following the country's 2001-2002 economic meltdown. Authorities say there is a kidnapping every 48 hours.

Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz and cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez announced that 107 ranking police officials were being forced into early retirement.

President Kirchner personally reviewed the files of many federal officers as part of the overhaul, Beliz said.

The officials said the changes would also help to fight suspected corruption and inefficiency.

Crime has replaced double-digit unemployment and economic recovery as a top concern for Argentines. There are more than 800 crimes reported in and around the capital every day.

Beliz said the overhaul was also part of an effort to eliminate bureaucracy and announced that federal police jurisdictions in the crime-ridden capital would be cut from 12 to five zones.

"This (reorganization) will bring about a cost savings in the bureaucracy and much better use of our personnel," Beliz said.

The announcement was the latest move taken by Kirchner to combat crime. Last month he unveiled a new national security plan and laws to beef up penalties against juveniles convicted of violent crimes.

That plan includes a proposal for a new federal investigative agency to tackle a wave of ransom kidnappings, fight drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and money laundering.